Waterfall Canyon - 11/6/13

One of Many Waterfalls

Waterfall Canyon

 Twenty-two hikers gathered for a hike up into Waterfall Canyon today. This spring fed canyon flows water year round and is found 1.5 miles up Rocky Gap Road from Willow Springs Picnic Area off of the Red Rock Canyon NCA scenic loop. The out and back hike is a little over 4 miles from Willow Springs and gains 1300 feet in elevation. The hike can also be done as a partial loop by utilizing the wash adjacent to the road for either the ascent or descent. Today, we walked the road up and back.

Trail Junction (Rocky Gap Rd & Waterfall Canyon)

Gathering on the Limestone

 We stopped for a small break several times along the hike. Our right turn into the canyon from the road led us into a beautiful limestone ravine. An average amount of water was flowing through the grass and limestone setting. Immediately, several of today's hikers were challenged with the slippery characteristics of limestone that is often covered with water. Nevertheless, we were all determined to rise to the occasion as we helped each other find the trails.

Slippery Scrambling

Almost to the End

 Waterfall Canyon was not left untouched by the huge amount of rain last summer. The brush was over-growing the trail in a few places and the limestone seemed smoother in other places. It appeared that hikers have been recently hiking on the high trail to the ascending right of the ravine. Most likely, there were many times last summer that required this detour.

Algae Covering the Orange Beneath

The Highest Waterfall (Shaded)

 Chris led us up past the highest waterfall and continued until it was impossible to climb next to the stream any further. The waterfalls in the upper reaches of the canyon were covered in algae as seen two photos above. The group separated on the descent. Everyone was happily returning to the cars at their own speed. A very pleasant hike even though the canyon is not at its best at this time.

Thistles

Returning on Rocky Gap Road

Far Peak & Spirit Peak - 11/5/13

Spirit Peak

Indecision Peak from Far Peak Approach

 It was a cold and windy day when fifteen hikers showed up for the crazy Tuesday hike.  Unfortunately, there were no women to ensure that the boys would behave.  We hopped in our high clearance vehicles and headed over the Mountain Springs Pass to Lovell Canyon Road.  Less than a mile up Lovell Canyon Rd, we took the dirt road to Rainbow Springs.  We parked just short of the springs where there was space for our vehicles.  There was water and ice on the road from the springs as we headed in that direction.  When we reached the springs, we noticed that someone had planted many small trees around the springs and had plastic protectors on them so deer and other critters wouldn't eat the young bark.  We continued up a surprisingly nice trail until we reached the ridgeline just above the escarpment.

Far Peak

Group Photo on Far Peak

From there we had to scramble through some loose scree and limestone boulders until we reached the small sandstone hill called "Far Peak".  We signed the register there and then continued south along the ridge just above the escarpment to scramble east along some limestone pinnacles. We reached another log book and geocache for "Spirit Peak".  We had our snack break here with great views of Spring Mountain Ranch State Park and the canyon just west of the park.  We then dropped down into the wash below us and found ourselves on the same trail that accesses Monument Peak.  We took this very nice trail back to the vehicles.  It was a cold and windy day but the sun was shining and down in the washes it was very pleasant. ~ Jerry Thomas

Negotiating the Limestone Pinnacles of Spirit Peak

Grand Circle - 11/3/13

Turtlehead Peak from the Grand Circle Trail

Calico Hills from the Grand Circle Trail

 The Grand Circle Trail is a twelve mile loop hike beginning and ending at the Red Rock Canyon NCA Visitor Center. It travels around the canyon floor showing off Red Rock's escarpment, White Rock Hills and the Calico Hills while gaining a total of 1300 elevation feet. The hike, itself, is not difficult. However, the distance of the hike makes this 4 to 6 hour endeavor strenuous. There were eleven hikers on today's adventure!

Red Rock Wash Crossing

 We aimed for an average pace to complete the hike in 5 hours. Our uphill climb from the Visitor's Center to White Rock Springs averaged almost 3 mph. It is an uneventful gradual climb with views of the escarpment heading straight in the direction of Willow Springs. As we approached the junction with the White Rock Hills Loop, we commented on the new hike called Snoopy's Nose. Below, find a graphic of this reportedly "messy" hike that some of the club members did a week ago.

Snoopy Mountain within the La Madre Mountain Range

The White Rock Hills Loop section of the Grand Circle Trail started at a high point near the south end of the White Rock Hills, dipped into the small canyon then climbed up the old road trail to the White Rock Springs Trailhead. Today, we took a small detour to the spring cistern before heading on up to the break area at the trailhead where pit toilet #1 awaited!

Section of White Rock Hills Loop

 Feeling good that most of the climbing was done, we started down on the second leg of the hike. This section took us down the dirt road, crossed the scenic loop (2nd time), and began crossing the desert about half a mile southeast of the scenic loop high point turnout. We dipped and climbed in short spurts until we reached the Sandstone Quarry area. We took another shortened break here at pit toilet #2. We still felt good and were anxious to complete the hike down by the beautiful Calico Hills.

Break Time at White Rock Springs Trailhead

 This section of the Grand Circle is most familiar to us. Many other hikes use this thoroughfare to get from place to place but, today, as always, we enjoyed the colorful palette of the sandstone rising up to our left. We hiked down past Calico II and arrived at Calico I where there were many cars parked along the scenic loop roadway. Our hike continued down until we found the small crossover trail that led to the Visitor's Center. The last mile was the longest but we were no worse for the wear! 4 hours and 53 minutes! Great day! Great hike!

Dropping into Sandstone Quarry Area

Hiking Along the Calico Hills

Moenkopi / Calico I Loop - 11/2/13

Northwest View from Moenkopi Hill

 Eighteen hikers with a mixture of new and old faces joined the late Saturday hike this morning for a short and pleasant hike around the Moenkopi and Calico I Trails. The hike would only be 3 miles with 600 feet of elevation gain.

We parked in the lower parking lot of the Visitor's Center and started our hike on the trail that leads to the fee booth area. This is also one end of the Grand Circle Trail.

Calico I Overlook

Leaving Calico I Turnout

We crossed the scenic loop at the fee booth area and continued on the Grand Circle Trail climbing gradually up to the Calico I turnout. In this section of the hike, we made one turn to the right. Here, there is a sign that points in the direction of the Grand Circle Trail. The other trail leads back over to the Visitor's Center.

At the Calico I turnout, most of the hikers opted to go down the hill to the overlook. The red and white sandstone of the Calico Hills filled our eyes as we stood around twenty feet above the canyon wash below. There were many other visitors walking and scrambling at the overlook and on the hills in front of us.

Turtlehead Above Calico Hills

Lunch with a View

 After climbing the hill back up to the turnout, we crossed the scenic loop and hiked out to the Moenkopi Trail where we turned right again. This trail took us up to the top of the Moenkopi Hill Overlook. We sat a long time for our break enjoying the views then continued down the hill on the other side. Finishing out the hike on the other end of the Grand Circle Trail, we passed by the memory walk and found Jen Lindsay's inscribed brick. We miss her being here in Las Vegas. Hi, Jen!

Jen's Brick